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alexk
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Former Under-19 cricketer Michael Powell who lost half of his right foot to cancer is pleading with the public to donate A positive blood to help him walk again.
Powell, 28, needs six pints of the rare blood type to undergo an emergency surgery at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex as the Blood Bank is currently out of stock.
Up to two months ago, Powell, who played cricket with several clubs, including Wanderers, Merry Boys and Harvard, was gainfully employed as a paint technician, interior designer and gypsum installer.
So ambitious was Powell he started his own business where he retained a crew to assist him in his trade.
Now he is begging for handouts to eke out a living.
Powell said his life started to go downhill two months ago when he noticed a small bladder developing on the right side of his right foot.
He did not pay much attention to the bladder.
It was only after he started developing a fever and observed another bladder appearing on his foot, Powell visited the St Joseph Health Centre for medical attention, but he was referred to the Eric Williams
Medical Sciences Complex where tests showed he had basal cell skin cancer.
Within hours of the discovery, the doctors operated on his leg where they amputated the front part of his right foot.
“They removed my toes and piece of my foot. I was left with the heel and a piece of the instep which is just a stump.”
Thinking the worse was over, Powell said his leg became infected in July and doctors had to perform another surgery under the heel and instep.
“While in surgery the doctors ruptured two vessels where I began to bleed profusely. So they tied up the vessels and wrapped up the operation.”
The doctors told Powell that he would need an emergency surgery which requires six pints of A positive blood.
“From what I was told this blood is a rare blood type which the Blood Bank does not have in stock.”
Powell said he never knew his father while his mother lives in Florida. “I have no siblings. The few family members I approached did not seem interested in donating any blood. So I am turning to the public, especially those with this blood type to come forward and donate so I can walk again. The doctors told me if this operation is not done quickly I will not be able to walk again,” he said.
With his bandaged foot, Powell walks around with the aid of crotches.
“The wound is very painful. I have to fight the pain and go out and get.”
Up to May, Powell said he had everything going for him.
“I had a good job and I played Under-19 cricket for several clubs. I served my country with pride and passion. Now I am begging for handouts to survive because I have nothing. This has not been easy for me.
To me, this has been a hard blow. I still can’t come to terms with reality.”
The little money Powell had stashed away for a rainy day has been spent on maintaining himself and buying a honey-based cream to treat his foot.
“Though the hospital has been providing me with medication they don’t have this cream which I buy at $195 a tube.”
Powell uses three tubes of the cream a week. “Since I became sick I have exhausted my bank account. I am penny less.”
Now hard-pressed for cash, Powell owes his landlord $2,400 for his Barataria apartment.
“I have to say thank God I have an understanding landlord who sometimes would give me a little change when things are hard on my end.”
In a bid to help himself, Powell who is not a beneficiary of social welfare would hobble around on his crotches in San Juan to beg for assistance and blood.
“I only started doing this in desperation a few days ago.”
On a good day he would take home $120.
“My mother would also assist by sending US$60 for me. But these last few weeks I have not received anything as things on her end is difficult as well. It has really been hard. I try not to give up.”
In his quiet moments, Powell said he would ask God to deliver him from the obstacle he is facing.
“I took life for granted. I thought sickness would have never come my way at such an early age...that this only happens when you get old. But God has proven me wrong. This has drawn me closer to the Almighty because I realise that one day you are up and the next day a simple illness or disease can thrown you down and change your life in the blink of an eye. I am testament of that.”